Computer and
technology jobs have moved beyond the Dilbert era according to
Linda Scherr, program director of IBM Women in Technology. Scherr
admits in an article published in the November 2000 issue of CIO
Magazine that women in information technology can still expect
to work long hours, but recruiters have had to begin addressing
the needs of women to increase human diversity in the technology
field.

Jerry Patton,
vice president of human resources at LavaStorm (a systems engineering
company) participated in a panel discussion on gender issues at
Harvard in June of 2000.

Like many
Internet startups, LavaStorm created a corporate culture including
Recreational Activities for Motivation (RAM) which allocated ten
percent of company space to playrooms featuring Ping-Pong, foosball,
air hockey tables, an indoor batting cage and a massage chair.
Patten said, In the past, I have had applicants who were
women identify that our culture would not work well for them.

Jean Marzilli,
LavaStorms recently hired director of staffing is committed
to hiring more women and said, Probably, we (women) want
practical things, not playthings, ways to simplify our lives,
like a concierge service to pick up the dry cleaning or shop for
food.

Some technology
related organizations are already demonstrating these changes.
The National Security Agency (NSA) reported, based on January
2001 numbers, that 41 percent of its computer scientists and 31
percent of its mathematicians are women.

Although not
offering salaries as high as private industry, Deborah Bonnani,
NSA technical director for human resources said, We can
appeal to women with continuing education programs, on site childcare,
flexible work arrangements and fitness centers. These things are
big sellers, very enticing to women. The NSAs reported
overall attrition rate of five to six percent is low in todays
economy.